Washing apparatus.



.1. R. SMITH.

WASHING APPARATUS. APPLIoAfrIoN rLBD MAn.s,1911.

y Patented 0G13. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. R. SMITH WASHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3,1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I NN

UNIF@ S ATFS PATENT FFIQF.

JOHN R. SMITH, OF BRADFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF, AND ONE-HALF TO HERMAN E. BEEDE, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS.

WASHING APPARATUS.

To all whom 25 may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN It. SMITH, of 39 Bradford avenue, Bradford, county of Essex, State o-f Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in l/Vashing Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a speciiication, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to washing apparatus and pertains more particularly in a preferred form, to washing apparatus adapted to wash or cleanse drinking utensils and the like used in common by a number of persons, and having various features of improvement over those heretofore known in the art.

For illustration, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one of the embodiments of which my invention is susceptible.

In the drawings Figure l is a plan with a portion broken away of a tumbler washer embodying features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of Fig. l with the parts in the normal position. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 with the parts in position to permit removal of the tumbler. Fig. 4 is a detail section on line 4 4 on Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail section on line 5 5 on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail of a modified form of the mechanism.

I have illustrated in the drawings a washer adapted to wash and cleanse a vessel, as for example a drinking tumbler that is used in common by a number of people.

In order to render my invention most effective it is intended that the washer Shall take the place of the present tumbler stands, holders or sinks now used about public drinking places. It is also provided that the drinking tumbler shall not be exposed except when a person desiring to use the same, shall operate mechanism to eject the tumbler.

The invention is so arranged that the washing of the tumbler is not left to the discretion of the person using said tumbler and also that the tumbler must be placed in position to be washed and cannot be placed vin any other position.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated therein an upright container or body l() within which the tumbler l1 is placed and washed. This container may be of any Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1911.

Patented Oct. 14, i913.

Serial No. 612,061.

preferred form most suitable to the size and shape of the drinking vessel or the like. The container may be supported by the various pipes leading therefrom or it may be secured to a wall or support by brackets or lugs similar to the lug l2 shown most clearly in Figs. l and 2. I-Ierein I have illustrated the container l0 as consisting of a cylindrical body l5 screwed to a base 16. Ihe base 16 is so constructed and arranged that the necessary chambers and water passages are provided therein, but this arrangement may be varied to suit different conditions of installation. Herein the partition 17 at the junction of the cylindrical body 15 and the base 16 provides a washing cleansing chamber A. Within the base 16 is the waste water chamber B and the central water supply passage C leading through the said chamber. The waste water chamber is provided with a waste pipe 20 leading downward to any desired waste outlet.

The supply passage C is provided with a i supply pipe 2l that is connected with any suitable source of water supply. l/Vhen available this source of supply may be the regular city mains or when this is not possible, as for example, in a railway coach, the said source may be the regular or some special water tank provided with water. The said supply passage C is arranged centrally of the cleansing chamber A and leading from said passage is a hollow shaft or tubular member 22. The said tubular member extends upward and terminates at a point somewhat below the top of said cleansing chamber. The end of said tubular member is provided with a partially closed top 24 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. A plurality of orifices 25 through the walls of said tubular member communicate with the cleansing chamber A. Sliding axially of said tubular member 22 is a relatively large circular tumbler support 26 provided with a valve portion 27 surrounding and guided by said tubular member 22. Said valve member is provided with elongated openings 28 running axially thereof.

By means to be hereinafter described the movement of the tumbler support 26 is limited in either 4direction but such movement is greater than the length of said elongated openings in order that the said openings shall pass beyond said orifices 25 and thereby close the latter and cut off the supply of water issuing therefrom when the tumbler support is in the extreme positio-ns. rihat is, when said tumbler support is in the uppermost position to receive or eject the tumbler 11 from the chamber A, see F ig. 3, the lower part of the valve portion 27 will prevent water issuing from the orifices 25, and again when said support reaches the lowest position as shown in Fig. 2 the said orifices are again cut od. Intermediate of these two points the elongated openings 28 communicate with the said orifices 25 and water is permitted to issue therefrom into the said cleansing'chamber.

Limiting means yof any desired form may engage the tumbler support 26, as for example, the top 24: of the tubular member to limit downward movement of said support and a stop 30 on the inner wall of the cylindricalV body 15 to limit the upward movement of said support.

The valve portion 27 is provided at the top thereof with a substantially conical head 31. The said conical head is of relatively large diameter and is adapted to project beyond the top of the cleansing chamber A when the said head and tumbler support are in. the position illustrated in Fig. 3. This construction and arrangement prevents a tumbler from being placed into the cleansing chamber in any other but an inverted position which is the washing position. That is the said conical head is large and projects beyond the top of said cleansing chamber so that a tumbler cannot be supported thereon in any position but the inverted position without falling off. By this means the supporting or positioning of the tumbler is not left to the discret-ion of any person using the tumbler for drinking purposes.

The conical head 31 is provided with means for directing a plurality of fine jets of water against the inside of the tumbler during a portion of the vertical movement of the said head. This is accomplished by providing an orifice 32 through the tubular member 22 to direct water into the top of the conical head 31 and through the jets 33 during a part of the axial movement of the valve portion 27 and the said conical head. This period of admission of the water to said jets may be controlled by providing' the said conical head with a depending rod 35 passing through the orifice 82 and having an enlarged portion 36 adapted at times to completely fill the said orifice 32 during a certain part of the movement of said conical head. A spring pressed pawl 38 pivoted at 39 is provided with a tail piece 1() adapted to receive and support thereon the tumbler the weight of which withdraws said pawl from engagement with the ratchet teeth L11 cut across the periphery of the tubular member.

The tumbler support 26 may be moved axially in any desired manner. Herein l have illustrated flexible members 13 secured at one end to said tumbler support. The said fiexible members pass upward within thcvcleansing chamber and over pulleys 14; mounted at a5 upon the short shafts secured to the ears 116 at the top of the cylindrical member 15. The ends of said flexible members extending outside the cleansing chamber are secured in any suitable manner to a counterweighted actuating ring 47 surrounding the cylindrical member 15. The said actuating ring is movable axially of said cylindrical member for the purpose of moving the tumbler support 26 upward to partially expel the tumbler so that the saine may be grasped and withdrawn from the cleansing chamber by a person desiring to use it for drinking purposes.

The partition 17 has therethrough an orifice 50 connecting the cleansing chamber A with the waste water chamber B. While the cleansing process is going on the said orifice is normally closed by the depending plug 51 secured to the bottom of the tumbler support 26. lli/'hen the said tumbler support 26 is in the upward positionv the plug 5.1 is withdrawn from the orifice 50 to permit any water in the cleansing chamber to run therefrom to the waste water chamber B. Radial ribs 52 on the upper surface of the tumbler support are adapted together with the tail piece 40 on the pawl 38, to support thereon the tumbler 11. That is the tumbler is supported by a plurality kof ribs or the like which engage the former on the edge thereof at points only, so no great portion of the edge of the tumbler will be in contact withV anything but the cleansing water which has free access thereto.

A. vertical siphon tube 55 communicating with the waste water chamber B is located adjacent to the tubular member 22. This siphoning tube passes through a hole 56 in the tumbler support and extends upward to a point close to the bottom of inverted tumbler 11 where it is provided with openiiigs 57. By this construction the siphon tube 55 acts to withdraw the water from within the tumbler, to remove the air therefrom to permitthe water to enter and fill thesame and it also serves to prevent the notation of the tumbler support 26.

An overfiow 58 at the top of the cleansing chamber A, extends do-wnward and communicates with the waste water chamber An enlarged guard ring 60 secured to the top of the cylindrical chamber 15 is so arranged as to co-ver and conceal the pulleys 411.

j The form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 6 is substantially of the same construction just described with the exception that instead of the water being entirely cut 0E fro-m entering the cleansing chamber A when the tumbler support is in the lowest position, a relatively small amount of water is thereafter admitted and again fills the cleansing chamber. Vhen said chamber is filled to the point when the Siphon can act, the water will be again withdrawn. This filling and siphoning will be continuous so long as the tumbler remains undisturbed in the cleansing chamber. To this end the tubular member 22 is entirely open at the top and is provided with a seat 65 against which the inverted portion 66 within the conical head 31 is seated. A jet 67 through said conical head communicates at all times with the interior of said tubular member 22 so that water has free access therethrough when all other orices are closed.

No special form of tumbler is necessary to the operation of my invention although a tumbler having a rounded bottom is illus-- trated. Any form of tumbler can be used and the same will be acted upon by conical head 31 to prevent the placing of said tumbler in any position other than the washing position.

The operation of my invention is as follows: It is assumed that the water supply pipe is attached to a source of supply and the waste water pipe connected to some run off conduit. The tumbler being within the washing apparatus and the parts being in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the person desiring to use said tumbler, grasps the actuating ring 47 with one hand and pushes the same downward to the position illustrated by Fig. 3 when the tumbler support strikes the stop 30. When this is done the bottom of said tumbler is exposed to the grasp of the other hand and it may be Withdrawn from the cleansing chamber. The withdrawal of tumbler cannot be accomplished in any other manner as the top of cleansing chamber extends a suflicient distance above said tumbler when it is in said chamber, to prevent said tumbler being grasped. `While the tumbler has moved upward a short distance the elongated openings 2S will communicate with the orices 25 which direct water against the inside of the tumbler 11. At the same time the orifice 32 is opened by the conical head 31 leaving the end 0f the tubular member 22. This water is also supplied to the jets 33 higher up within the body of said tumbler. This cleansing process continues until the respective orifices have been cut off bythe valve portion 27 and the enlarged portion 36 on the depending rod 35. Thus the tumbler is cleansed just before its use. The depending plug 51 being withdrawn from the orifice 50 the water runs therethrough into the waste chamber B until the cleansing chamber is empty. When said tumbler is withdrawn `from the tumbler support 26 the pawl 38 under the action of the spring therefor, engages the teeth 41 and holds the said tumbler support in the upper position. After the person uses the tumbler to obtain drinking water supply the said tumbler must be placed on some retainer or support. No other place being provided the washer is the only device of the character to receive the tumbler. The user finds that said washer will not receive the tumbler when the latter is set bottom down on said washer nor can the conical head be depressed by reason of the pawl 3S engaging the teeth 4l. The user then turns the tumbler bottom up and places the same over the conicaly head 31 and releases his grasp on the tumbler. Immediately the tumbler drops onto the ribs 52 and the tail 40 of the pawl. The weight of the tumbler compresses the spring and pulls the pawl 38 from engagement with the teeth 41. Immediately the weight of the tumbler 11 causes the tumbler support to move downward again uncovering the orifices 25 and 32 and water issues therefrom against the tumbler. small does not permit any great quantity of water to escape therefrom during this movement. Before the tumbler support reaches the lowest limit of movement the depending plug 51 enters the said orifice 50 effectually closing the same. The lower edge of the tumbler coming in contact with the water rising within the cleansing chamber, imprisons the air contained within the tumbler. The descent of the tumbler and tumbler support 26 is now checked more or less while the imprisoned air escapes through the siphon tube 55 and into the waste water chamber B. By this means the descent of the tumbler is slow enough to permit the entering water to reach a height just above the opening 57 at the top of siphon tube 55. Immediately upon the entering water being cut oaf the Siphon tube 55 commences to draw the water from wit-hin the tumbler. There being little or no air within the tumbler, the water therein maintains the same elevation during the siphoning process thus the water witho-ut said tumbler is drawn into the tumbler. That is the level of the water within the tumbler will be maintained while the level of the water outside of the tumbler lowers as the siphoning continues. l/Vhen the said outer level of water reaches the lower edge of the tumbler the hydraulic seal will be lost and air will immediately enter beneath said edge and arise to the top of the water column within the tumbler. Immediately the column of water within the tumbler will commence to fall so that the level thereof is lower than the openings 57. Thereafter the. descending column of water draws air up through the siphon tube 55 and until the The orifice 50 being relatively v water both Within and without said tumbler reaches the same level. This water but partially fills the cleansing chamber and tumbler. Tf desired l may make the orifice 50 slightly larger than the depending plug 5l so as to gradually dr w off this water within the cleansing chamber. This slight enlargement of the oriice 50 will not be eno-ugh to interfere with the proper working of the siphoning means or other operating parts.

The construction illustrated by Fig. G operates in the same manner so far as the siphoning is concerned. The entry of water from the tubular member 22 will be continuous from the time that the valve portions 27 operate to uncover the orifices 25 after leaving the lowest position of said valve portions, until the said orifices are again closed by the valve portion in the same position. J ust after the tumbler support starts upward the portion 66 leaves the valve seat and Water is permitted to flow through the jets 33 unt-il such time as the top edges of the elongated openings 2S project above the said valve seat 65. Thereafter the water will flow through the larger openings 28 rather than the restricted jets 33 and 67. This flow of water will continue until the open-ing 28 is cut off from the valve seat b'andv yorifices 25. Thereafter water will flow with full force through the jet 67. By using this jet 67 the cleansing chamber and tumbler will again fill with water until the same reaches the level of the openings 57 when the water is again siphoned from the cleansing chamber and tumbler. Tn this form of my invention the depending plug 5l Will entirely close the orifice 50 so that the entering water from the jet ('37 will not run off.

By means of a device of this character the washing of the tumbler is assured. This device also provides for a circulation of the washing water and a comparatively rapid reversal of the direction of the washing water. That is, when the tumbler moves downward in the washing chamber A. the current of the entering water is downward interiorly of the tumbler, and eXteriorly of the tumbler the current of the water is upward. TWhen the siphoning action above described is being performed the rapidly descending column of water again reverses the movement of the water within the cleansing chamber. Thus the movement of the cleansing Water is alternately reversed and it more thoroughly cleanses the tumbler or vessel within the cleansing chamber.

I have described herein one embodiment of my invention: but it is to be understood that the latter is not essentially limited to the specificv details of construction and organization of said embodiment, since the same may be varied without departing from the proper scope of theclaims.

Claims.

l. Tn a Washing apparatus, a cleansing chamber, a water supply pipe centrally thereof, means to supply water thereto, a sliding member on said pipe to receive and support a vessel to be Washed, and means exterior of said chamber for moving said sliding member.

2. ln a Washing apparatus a cleansing chamber, a water pipe centrally thereof connected to a source of water supply and adapted to direct water to the interior of a vessel to be washed, a sliding member on said pipe to receive and support a vessel to be washed, mechanism exterior to said chamber for moving said sliding member upward and means adjacent to said central pipe and adapted to siphon the water from the interior of said vessel to be washed.

3. ln a cleansing apparatus, a cleansing chamber', a tubular member centrally thereof, means for supplying water to said member, a vessel support slidingly mounted upon said tubular member, a conduit adjacent to said tubular member and terminating near the bottom of the vessel to be cleansed, means exterior to said cleansing chamber for raising and lowering said vessel support, and means to limit the vertical movement of said vessel support.

4L. Tn a washing apparatus, a cleansing chamber, a tubular member centrally thereof, and having orifices to permit Water to issue therefrom te the said cleansing chamber; means to supply water to said tubular member, a sliding valve on said tubular member, having slots adapted to register with the orifices in the tubular member when the valve is intermediate of limiting means therefor; a vessel support on said valve, means for limiting said valve in either direction, and means eXteriorly of said cleansing chamber for raising said valve.

Tn a washing apparatus, a cleansing chamber, a tubular member centrally thereof, having orifices to permit water to issue therefrom to the interior of said cleansing chamber; means to supply water to said tubular member, a sliding valve on said tubular member, having slots adapted to permit water to issue from said orices in the said tubular member when said valve is intermediate of limiting means therefor; a vessel support on said valve, means for limiting said valve in either direction, means exterior to said cleansing chamber for raisingsaid valve, and locking mechanism interposed between said valve and said tubular,

member to lock said valve in the raised position.

6. In a washing apparatus, a cleansing of, having orifices adapted to permit Water to issue therefrom to the interior of said cleansing chamber; means to supply Water to said tubular member, a sliding valve on said tubular member, having slots adapted to permit Water to issue from said orifices in the said tubular member When said valve is intermediate of limiting means therefor; a vessel support on said valve, means for limiting said valve in either direction, means exterior to said cleansing chamber for raising said valve, locking mechanism inter` posed between said valve and said tubular member to lock said valve in the raised position, and mechanism actuated by said vessel for releasing said locking mechanism.

7. In a cleansing apparatus, a cleansing chamber, a tubular member centrally thereof, having a plurality of orices, means to supply Water thereto, a vertically moving valve member adapted to close said orifices,

a Waste Water outlet in the bottom of said chamber, and means on said valve member for moving the same.

8. In a Washing apparatus, a cleansing chamber, a tubular member centrally thereof having orifices to permit Water to issue therefrom, vertically movable valve mechanism on said tubular'member to receive a tumbler placed thereon, and mechanism eX- terior to said chamber and connected to the said valve mechanism to move it vertically to eject a tumbler from said cleansing chamber.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN R. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE M. CLOUGH, EDWIN T. LUCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

